On-Campus Employment (J-1)
J-1 students can be eligible for on-campus (also called “on-premises”) employment during their studies. The work does not need to be related to the student’s field of study. Students must maintain their status while engaging in on-campus employment. J-1 students must first obtain approval from their J-1 Responsible Officer. If UNH is your Program Sponsor, then your J-1 Responsible Officers are members of the OISS staff (your OISS advisor).
*If your J-1 Program Sponsor is another agency, you will need to contact them for work permission.
If you have questions about what counts as “on campus” employment or the authorization process, please reach out to OISS before taking any action.
Eligibility Requirements
You may work on campus if:
You are maintaining J-1 status
Your J-1 Responsible Officer has approved the specific employment in advance
You follow the appropriate hiring paperwork and SSN steps below
You follow the hour restrictions for your on-campus employment
You may work no more than 20 hours per week maximum during the Fall and Spring semesters. (Note: Graduate Assistantships are equal to 20 hours per week.)
You may work full time (over 20 hours per week) during university breaks (spring, summer, and winter breaks).
You may NOT be employed on campus after you have completed a program of study, unless you have been authorized for J-1 Academic Training, and you are working at UNH through such an authorization.
J-1 Work Permission, Hiring Paperwork, & Obtaining A Social Security Number (SSN)
Before you begin working on campus, you must complete the required permission and hiring paperwork processes. Working without authorization is a serious violation of your status.
Follow the steps below for obtaining and beginning on-campus employment as a J-1 student:
Obtain the job and print your employment letter from Workday. Refer to your job supervisor with any questions.
Log into eOISS and under the “International Office” section, complete and submit the “J-1 On-campus Work Authorization eForm”.
You will need a copy of your Workday employment offer letter.
OISS will report your on-campus employment in your SEVIS record and provide you with a J-1 On-Campus Work Authorization Permission Letter from OISS. You should retain the letter for your J-1 status documents.
Complete the Workday tasks related to your employment authorization, this includes the I-9, W-4, and Foreign National Information Form (FNIF). Refer to your job supervisor or UNH Human Resources (HR) with any questions.
Visit the UNH HR office in person with your passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 to complete the work authorization process prior to the start date of the job.
If you are working on campus for the first time, you must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). Download the Social Security Administration (SSA) letter and have your supervisor complete and sign the letter.
All signatures must be handwritten and wet-signed on the SSA letter.
Email oiss@unh.edu to schedule a time for OISS to review and sign the SSA letter.
OISS will review and sign the letter and provide you with basic instructions for applying for a Social Security Number (SSN).
Complete the online SSN application.
Make an appointment with the SSA office online.
Attend your SSA appointment.
Log into Workday and report your SSN information when you receive your SNN card in the mail.
Off-Campus Employment (J-1)
International students in J-1 status have off-campus employment options available to them, provided they are maintaining their J-1 status.
Academic Training (AT): AT is work authorization that allows J-1 students to pursue off-campus employment directly related to the major listed on their DS-2019. Students must obtain AT authorization (for both paid and unpaid employment) prior to beginning employment. The authorization requires an employment offer.
Academic Training may take place during the completion of the degree (pre-completion AT) or after the completion of the degree (post-completion AT). Post-completion AT must begin within 30 days of the student's completion of study.
For more information, contact your OISS advisor or email oiss@unh.edu.
